Phnom Penh, Oct 20 (AP) Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet officially inaugurated Techo International Airport on Monday, marking a significant upgrade in infrastructure aimed at elevating both tourism and foreign investment in the capital city, Phnom Penh.
Located in Kandal province, approximately 30 kilometers to the south of Phnom Penh, this state-of-the-art airport features three runways, replacing the aging Phnom Penh International Airport, which had served the city for nearly 70 years with just one runway. The new facility, which has been operational since September, represents a $2 billion investment in a joint venture between the Cambodian government and the Overseas Cambodian Investment Corp.
Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed hopes that this development will rejuvenate the flow of tourists and investors into Cambodia, surpassing levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic. Techo International Airport is expected to initially accommodate 13 million passengers, with expansion capacity to handle up to 30 million passengers post-2030, and eventually reaching a capacity of 50 million by 2050.
However, the outlook for a swift increase in foreign tourism has been marred by the tragic death of a young South Korean individual who was allegedly lured into working at an online scam center in Cambodia. Many of these workers are reportedly exploited under conditions akin to modern slavery, engaged in online fraud which has become a multi-billion dollar criminal enterprise. This illegal activity recently gained international attention, with the United States and Britain imposing sanctions against the masterminds of a prominent Cambodian gang, and its purported leader facing indictment by a federal court in New York.
Complicating matters further, in July, Cambodia experienced a five-day military conflict with neighboring Thailand. Although a ceasefire ended the confrontation, tensions between the two countries remain high.
Between January and August of this year, Cambodia welcomed approximately 4 million foreign tourists, according to Prime Minister Hun Manet's announcement in September. This comes after the country saw an influx of 6.7 million tourists last year, reflecting a 23 percent increase from 2023.
This latest development marks Cambodia's second new major airport in the span of two years. In October 2023, the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport was unveiled, strategically located to support Cambodia's prime tourist destination, the ancient Angkor Wat temple complex.
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